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No. 384,214. Patent-ed June 5; 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. OSMER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,214, dated June 5, 1888 Application filed June 11, 1887. Serial No. 241,074. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. OsMER, a c1tizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful GarmentSupport, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved garment-support or stiffening device to be secured to the front breadths of coats, vests, or like garments, and the object thereof is to prevent the wrinkling, creasing, or sagging of the front breadths and lapels of said garments, and to permit such creased or sagging parts to be readily reshaped and held in proper form.

To this end my invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa coat with one front breadth partly broken away, showing three of my improved garment-supports in proper position. Fig. 2 is a modification of my garment-support having transversely-enlarged ends and holes for securing it to the garment. Fig. 3 is a modification of the support covered or inclosed in a casing. Fig. 4 is a view of the support made of wire with'enlarged ends. Fig. 5 is a view of the front breadth of a coat provided with my garmentsupport arranged to fold or roll with the lapel of the garment. Fig. 6 is a view in section of the front breadth of a garment, showing one plan of applying my garmentsupport.

Similar figures indicate similar throughout the different views.

By referring to numbers 1, 8, 10, and 27 it will be noticed that my garment-support consists of a strip or similar stiffening brace adapted to be secured at or near the edge of the front breadths of coats or like garments, and extend rearward therefrom, one of the supports being placed in each front breadth of the garment near the lower end of the lapel 19, with the ends extending rearward a few inches, or to the sleeve-connection of the coat 3, while others may be placed in position in the garment, as shown in Fig. 1.

My garment-support may be flexible, spring,

parts or rigid metal, india rubber, guttapercha,

celluloid, whalebone, rattan, feather bone, stiff leather, or any suitable stiffening fabric,

or a combination of the above materials, the object being to provide a support for this purpose that will not be seriously affected by perspiration or moisture; hence I desire to include in its construction any suitable material of this nature.

The support is designed to be curved at its outer end to fit the lapel-fold of the garment, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7; or it may be applied as shown in Fig. 1, and it is to be curved its entire length to fit the breast when in position for use, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 7.

When desired, the support may be inolosed in a casing or envelope, as shown in Fig. 4, having a wide flange and seam, 9; or the cow ering may be pasted, instead of stitched, onto the support, and the whole may be secured in place by stitching or pinning it through the flange or the holes to the inside of the garment, or between the lining andouter cloth.

I am of opinion that stiftly-starched fabrics are sometimes used to stiffen the front breadths ofcoats and like garments. I This is objectionable, as the stiffening is soon rendered useless from moisture or perspiration, while in overcoats and heavy garments a starch-stiffened fabric is not strong enough for the requirements.

It will be observed that the benefits to be derived from my improved garment-support are numerous and practical. It is well known that the collars, lapels, and the front breadths of coats, now commonly used, especially thin summer coats and heavy winter coats, no matter how carefully made and pressed, will in a short time fold unevenly at the lapel and front breadth thereof, and also wrinkle between the lapel and sleeve, rendering the garment unsightly and objectionable; hence the novelty of this light-,firm shapely waterproof garmentsupport, which may, perhaps, be termed a discovery as well as an invention; and it is here to be understood that I am not to limit or confine myself to any precise form or plan of making or applying my improved garmentsupport, so long as its office is substantially the same, in. combination with a coat or like garment.

What I claim is 1. A coat or like garment provided at its front breadths with a metallic or suitable water-proof stiffeningbrace having its ends transto fit the lapel-fold, and secured between the versely thickened, and secured between the arm and front edge of the garment, substanarm and front edges of the garment, substantially as described.

tially as described. 7 7 WILLIAM H. OSMER. 5 2. A coat or like garment provided at its In presence of.-

front with'a metallic or suit-able Water-proof A. M. EVERIST,

stiffening-brace having its outer end curved EDWIN ROBIRDS. 

